Rotary engine



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

G. L. GRIFFIN, W. A. SHOUP 81; J. R. CADE.

ROTARY ENGINE.

No. 297,254. Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

WITNESSES f -6@ dW I Afforneyls' (No Model.)

G. .L. GRIFFIN, WQ AqsRoIIP'xv J. R. CARR,"

ROTARY ENGINE.

N0. 297,254. Patented Apr. 22, 1884.

WIT/1158858 ihvrren STATES PATENT @rrrce.

GEORGE L. GRIFFIN, WILLIAM AURELIUS SHOUP, AND JAMES ROBERT OADE, OF HAIERISBURG, TEXAS.

ROTARY ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 297,254, dated April 22, 188%.

Application filed December 15, 1883. (No model.)

To etZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE L. GRIFFIN, VVILLIAM A. SHoUr, and J AMES R. CADE, citizens of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Harris and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Rotary Engine, ofwhich the following is a specifica tion, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in reversible rotary engines; and it has for its object to improve the construction and efficiency of this class of engines.

\Vith these and other objects in view our improvements will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is an exterior view of our improved rotary engine. Fig. 2 is a partial longitudinal sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a View of the rotary piston or cylinder. Fig. 4 is a view of the cut-off, and Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of the engine.

A represents a suitable casi mg for a double reversible rotary engine, provided with a baseblock and journal-bearings for the central rotating shaft, 0. Uponthe shaft 0 is fixed the piston or cylinder D, divided into two sections by means of the packing-rings E. Each section of the piston (see Fig. 3) is formed with a chamber, F, having one of its walls vertical and the other inclined. The vertical wall of each chamber is provided with a packing-plate, casuitably secured thereto. Arranged within each chamber F is a sliding valve, 1), fitting snugly in the vertical side grooves, c, and against the packing-plate 11.

These sliding valves are cruciform in shape.

The inner extensionsor stems, c, are provided with encircling coil-springs d, for the purpose of thrusting the valves, when in their chamber, outward and against the inner periphery of the casing. The outer ends, 6, of the valves work in corresponding-shaped grooves on the inner face of the casing.

H represents packing-rings arranged against the ends of the casing, and pressed forward against the ends of the revolving piston or cylinder D, through the agency of springsf, interposed between the said packing-rings and the ends of the casing. These springs f or the packing rings H may be provided with set-screws or their equivalents for adjusting the packing-rings against the ends of the revolving piston, so as to make a more perfect steam-tight joint.

Atthe top of the casing "is arranged, in a suitable manner, with steam-tight joints, the cutoff I, automatically adjusted for a close connection or contact with the revolving piston by means of tension devices. This cutoff is provided with two spring arms, h, to each chamber of the engine, and extending downward on opposite sides a short distance into the steam-passages of the casing. The office of these spring-arms attached to the cutoff is to force the sliding valves into their pockets as they approach the cut-off, and at the same time to permit an easy outward thrust of the sliding valves as they pass beyond the cutoff.

To the top of the casing maybe attached, and, in fact, is preferably, a steam-chest with a sliding valve, for the purpose of admitting and exhausting steam at proper intervals; butfor a cheap engine of this class a cap-plate, K, provided with steam-pipes L and exhaustpipes M, is arranged on top of the enginecasing, to register with the induction and eduction passages of the casing. The under side of this cap is provided with tensionsprings pressing upon the upper surface of the ci1t-off to compensate the wear upon the same.

The casing or cylinder for the engine may be constructed of two or more parts, suitably connected together by meansof packing-rings and bolts; also, by increasing the length of the casing as well as the length of the revolv ing piston, equipped with the necessary adjuncts, three or more sections or compartments can be formed to obtain increased power.

Operation: By reference to Fig.5 of the drawings it will be observed that the revolving piston is shown with its sliding valve thrust outward beyond the cut-off, ready to receive steam. By admitting steam in the induction-- port it will come in contact with the valve and drive the piston in the direction indicated by the arrow, and as it advances toward the cut-off it will come in contact with the springarm or its equivalent, which will gradually force it into its pocket, so as to easily pass the cut-off, and the dead steam will be exhausted through the exhaust-port.

e reserve the right to vary the construc tion and arrangement of parts Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is-

1. In a rotary engine, a piston or cylinder formed with a chamber or pocket, F, having one of its walls vertical and the other inclined, in combination with a sliding valve fitted therein and adapted to be thrust outward by means of a spring, substantially as and for the f purpose set forth.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination, with the casing formed 011 its inner periphery with grooves constituting steam-passages, a revolving piston provided with chambers or pockets to which are fitted spring sliding valves and l i l i l l a cutoff with inclined spring-arms, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The improved rotary engine herein de scribed, consisting, essentially, of the casing formed with steam-passages, revolving piston, and divided into two sections by means of the packing-ring, and provided with spring sliding valves fitted into pockets thereof, end packingrings, cut-off with spring-arms arranged on opposite sides thereof, and arranged within the steam-passages of the casing, and capplate, with induction and eduction ports.

I11 testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. GRIFFIN. \VILLIAM AURELIUS SHOTTP. JAMES ROBERT OADE.

\Vitnesses:

CI-IRIsTTE SOHULZE, JOHN EDWARD HO'WD. CHAPMAN. 

